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July 31, 1923.'

E. L. SMALLEY SECTIONAL ELECTRIC FURNACE Filed Aug. 6. 1920 Patented July 31, 1923.

UNITED STATES npWIN n. SMALLEY, or Ears'r ORANGE,- NEW massif.

SECTIONAL ELECTRIC FURNACE.

Application and August e, 1920. serial mi. 401,718. y

Electric Furnaces, of which the followingis a specification. This invention relates toelectri furnaces of the saine general character as Athat disclosed in my; earlier` Patent No.l 13468 54, which is directed particularly to multiplereplaceable-unit* furnace's of size and capacity suited for industrial uses and my A present improvements are directed to such furnaces whose great length has created a difficulty in the renewal of individual portions thereof, as by damage to a unit refractory, or the burning out of a heating unit or coil.

Therefore my invention consists in the production of large size furnaces in longi tudinalV sections, composed each of housing bricks of pressed infusorial earth or other suitable material that is non-conductive of electricity, comprising a housing, which is in turn encased in a metallic shell. These sections, which contain, interiorly of the brick housing thereof, heating units which may be supported therein as by unit refractories, or otherwise, are arranged in endwise relation, and secured together as by the provision of Hanges at the respective ends of the metallic shells and bolting together the opposed flanges of adjacent shells.

Furthermore, each furnace section, thus constituted, is mounted on standards that are each provided with traction means, and spaced rails are provided to form a track for said traction means, so that when the bolts uniting the sections, or any of them, are removed, 'the released section or sections may be drawn apart. By these means any individual section of the furnace is rendered fully accessible for the purpose of repairing or replacing any component part thereof,

Other features and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electrical furnace composed of removable sections in connected relation.

Fig. 2 is a side sectional elevation of one of the furnace sections,l` in'renioved relation, and

Fig,.3 is anendyiewpf Fig. 1.

In said `views Ihave shown a furnace composed offa number ofrendwise opposed jsections,ryvhichfagcording lto their number :and hencet ie, ,aijggregate length accorded the furnace, thereby enables the'A latter to answer the requhilrements of certain 'industrial uses.i By inleari's'A sectional construction the-michiel. hief the ifernw. .is ,attained .by @massimi is@ Q f enfermar-inw numb?? @fi llt dlsiinicegsry for repair purposes to any particular section, that the means for connection of the sections one to another be simple and convenient to operate, also that suitable means be provided whereby the sections are, When released, readily movable relatively to one another, so that they may be drawn apart and again re-united with the least possible effort.

Therefore my improved furnace, illustrated in Fig. 1, is seen to be composed of a series of longitudinal sections 1, each provided with end flanges 2, whereby the opposed anges on adjacent sections may be connected as by bolts 3, to thus removably unite the sections.

Each furnace section is shown as provided with individual supporting standards 4, having terminal wheels 5, whereof the wheels for the standards at each side of each section are mounted on a rail 6, a pair of such rails constituting a track for the movable support of the sections, both individually and as in connected, complete furnace form.

The individual furnace sections, asshown in the exam le of Fig. 2, each comprise a. metallic shel or casing element, lined interiorly with a suitable brick housing 7 which may be of pressed infusorial earth, or the like, and each section provided with a heating element, in the form of a resistance conductor, such as indicated at 8, as carried by a mule which is here shown as composed of units refractories.

The usual practice is followed in connecting up the resistance conductors for the assembled sections to include them in circuit with the source of electrical energy, but is not otherwise referred to herein as forming part of the present invention.

It is to be understood that the rail track is intended to comprise the base upon which the furnace is to be mounted by means of its traction supports in the installation of the furnace, said track having suiicient length, exceeding the furnace length, to permit the sections to be drawn apart, so that convenient access may be had tothe interior of any individual section needing repairs or renewal of parts.

It will be noted that the traction means, such as the wheels 5, have inner iviangea'to co-act with the rails for the purposeiof pre venting derailment, and also for maintaining alignment of furnace sections.

' Tariations Within the spiritl and scope of my invention are equally` -comprehend'ed herein by virtue of the foregoing disclosure.

l. In an electrical furnace, in combination, a pluralityT of longitudinal furnace sections, composed of noninagnetic material, adapted for 're'mo'vable, *endwis engagement, to permit variations in the furnace length, a resistor element common to the sections of the furnace, and individual traction means for the sections.

2. In an electrical furnace, in combination, a plurality of longitudinal lfurnace sections capable of removable, endwise abutting,r relation, to permit variations in the furnace length, releasable means of en gagement for adjacent sections, and individual traction means for the sections.

3. In an electrical furnace, in combination, a longitudinal track, a plurality of longitudinal furnace sections adapted for removable, endwise engagement, to permit variations in the furnace length, and individual, aligned traction means for vthe lsections tomovably support them on the tr ack.

Signed at New York in the county of New Yrk and Sta-te of New York this sec- 

